Is there any way to clean (or lighten) yellowing plastic?

aliasojo

I have something made of plastic which originally was cream but has turned a reasonably deep and nasty shade of yellow over the years.

It has been in a cupboard lately and seems to have got even worse.

No smoking household btw so nicotine doesn't play a part at all.

Is there anything I can do to make it look any better? It has electrical components so I can't just dump it in a bath of bleach for instance.

macman

What sort of plastic?
You could try UPVC cleaner if suitable.

maninthestreet

Yellowing of white plastic is normally due to UV light - exactly what is this piece of plactic?

Avoriaz

maninthestreet wrote: »

Yellowing of white plastic is normally due to UV light - exactly what is this piece of plactic?

Does it have an Ann Summers label?

bitemebankers

aliasojo wrote: »

I have something made of plastic which originally was cream but has turned a reasonably deep and nasty shade of yellow over the years.

Depends what sort of finish it has. If it's glossy, there's not a lot you can do with it IMHO. If it's a matte finish, you could try a cream cleaner like Cif, and plenty of elbow grease. It can be very effective for brightening up old plastic.

aliasojo

Actually, I've found a forum with a sticky that deals with the exact same thing on the exact same item (computer related) and the advice is to use hydrogen peroxide mixed with Oxy. There are before and after pictures and it looks very effective.

It's ABS plastic which was (is?) apparently known for yellowing because of the chemicals used in manufacture.

I've just called the Chemist and he confirms this *should* work so I'm off to go buy some now.

T_T_2

I'd second the CIF although the supermarket value alternative will work just as well.

Evil_Olive

if the oxy stuff doesn't work, I know the following does and won't spoil a glossy finish either.....

T-Cut to get rid of the top thin layer of yellow plastic, followed by AutoSol chrome cleaner paste (the paste type in a tube) to polish the surface back to a glossy shine.

Both products available in car accessory type shops.

ANGLICANPAT

The front cover of our wall fan was made of that old yellowing plastic. I tried all the usual stuff to no avail, but in the end, gave it a light rub over with fine sandpaper and sprayed white gloss plasticote over it from a sufficient distance to get a good finish, and it looks brand new now . Let us know if the peroxide works.